Asked by: Hilary Benn (Labour - Leeds Central)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 8 June 2023 to Question 187387 on Iraq: Political Prisoners, whether he plans to make further representations to the Kurdistan regional government in Iraq following the extension to the prison sentence of journalist Sherwan Sherwani.
Answered by Leo Docherty - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
The UK Government remains committed to pressing the case for improvements in the human rights situation in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) and to advocating for human rights for all, including in relation to freedom of expression and the freedom for journalists to do their jobs free from harm.
The UK Government, through our Consulate General in Erbil, takes a close interest in the treatment of journalists and human rights activists in the KRI, and they are monitoring the case of Mr Sherwani.
We have always been clear that journalists and political activists should be free to operate without undue interference from security forces or fear of indefinite detention.
Asked by: Hilary Benn (Labour - Leeds Central)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to (a) support and (b) protect Palestinian healthcare services in the occupied West Bank.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We strongly condemn all forms of violence and incitement to violence. Israel must abide by its obligations under international humanitarian law, including the principles of proportionality, distinction and necessity. The British Embassy in Tel Aviv regularly raises the importance of regularised access to healthcare with the Israeli authorities. Israel, as the occupying power, has a duty to ensure and maintain public health to the fullest extent possible. During his call on 4 July with the Israeli chargé d'affaires in London, the Minister of State for the Middle East, Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, urged Israel to safeguard access to healthcare and take proactive steps to guarantee the safety of civilians during Israeli operations in the West Bank. The Foreign Secretary emphasised the importance of the proactive protection of civilians during his call with Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen on 5 July. The wounded and ill in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories should be able to access the urgent medical care they need. The UK's annual contribution to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) also helps to fund (among other activities) access to health services for 3.5 million Palestinian refugees.
Asked by: Hilary Benn (Labour - Leeds Central)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment his Department has made for the implications of its policies made of the situation in Pakistan following the arrest of former prime minister, Imran Khan.
Answered by Leo Docherty - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
As the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary have said, the UK has a close and longstanding relationship with Pakistan. We support peaceful democratic processes and adherence to the rule of law and we are continuing to monitor the situation in Pakistan. Lord [Tariq] Ahmad of Wimbledon, Minister of State for South Asia, has spoken to the High Commissioner for Pakistan to the UK and to Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Hina Rabbani Khar.
Asked by: Hilary Benn (Labour - Leeds Central)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he with hold discussions with his counterparts in Egypt on releasing Alaa Abdel Fattah, Mohamed Baker and Neama Hisham from detention.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK Government has consistently expressed disappointment about the detentions of Alaa Abd El-Fattah and his co-defendants Mohamed El-Baqer and Mohamed Ibrahim, known as Mohamed 'Oxygen', with the Egyptian authorities since their arrest and detention in September 2019, including most recently on 4 April when Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon discussed human rights with FM Shoukry in Cairo. Neama Hisham was detained on 17 April and released on the same day.
Asked by: Hilary Benn (Labour - Leeds Central)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the extent of Government corruption in Zimbabwe.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
The UK sees corruption as an important barrier to economic reform and inclusive growth in Zimbabwe. We engage with the Government of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission, civil society and other actors in the fight against corruption in Zimbabwe. In 2022 we sanctioned a Zimbabwean businessman for serious corruption. No UK aid is channelled directly through Government of Zimbabwe systems, instead, we work primarily through multilateral organisations, notably United Nations agencies, international Non-Governmental Organisations and the private sector to deliver our programmes.
Asked by: Hilary Benn (Labour - Leeds Central)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had recent discussions with his counterparts in Saudi Arabia on (a) Salma al-Shehab and (b) other detained Saudi women who have been on hunger strike since 23 March 2023.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We have raised the continued detention of individuals for expressing their political views, including women and women's rights defenders, with the Saudi government. The FCDO is monitoring the case of Salma al-Shehab. The Minister responsible for the Middle East, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon, most recently raised her case with the President of the Saudi Human Rights Commission on 11 April. Lord Ahmad also raised Ms al-Shehab's case during his visit to the Kingdom in February. We will continue to raise human rights issues, including individual cases, with the Saudi authorities.
Asked by: Hilary Benn (Labour - Leeds Central)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make representations to the Swedish authorities to help prevent the potential deportation of Kathleen Poole.
Answered by Leo Docherty - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 27 February 2023 to Question UIN 146805 https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2023-02-17/146805. We continue to engage with the Swedish Authorities on the case of Ms Poole. Consular colleagues are in frequent contact with the Migration Agency and police. His Majesty's ambassador has raised Ms Poole's case with senior officials and Ministers. Officials will continue to offer support to Ms Poole's family.
Asked by: Hilary Benn (Labour - Leeds Central)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 16 March to Question 163724 on Ukraine: Humanitarian Aid, whether funds held by the independent foundation being established with the proceeds from the sale of Chelsea FC will be able to assist all those in humanitarian need as a result of the war in Ukraine including those not in Ukraine.
Answered by Leo Docherty - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
The proceeds from the sale of Chelsea FC are held in a frozen bank account; any use of the funds requires a licence from the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation. The Government committed that the Treasury will only issue a licence which ensures that the proceeds are used exclusively for humanitarian purposes in Ukraine. The war has left an estimated 17.6 million people in need of humanitarian assistance and protection inside Ukraine, with 5.4 million internally displaced.
Asked by: Hilary Benn (Labour - Leeds Central)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether there are (a) any foodstuffs and (b) any manufactured goods that producers in Northern Ireland cannot sell to customers in Great Britain because of the EU regulations applying in Northern Ireland that are listed in the annexe to the Northern Ireland Protocol.
Answered by Leo Docherty - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
The Government is unequivocal in its commitment for unfettered access for Northern Ireland goods to the whole United Kingdom market. That means a permanent guarantee of being able to place goods on the UK market in all scenarios - meaning no forms, checks, controls, or tariffs, or any barriers to the market whatsoever, whatever the future form of regulations in Northern Ireland. Those are protections that are enshrined in law and which we will build on further following the Windsor Framework.
Asked by: Hilary Benn (Labour - Leeds Central)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the persecution of Ahmadi Muslims in Bangladesh.
Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Preventing religious violence and upholding Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) in Bangladesh is a UK priority. In March, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon met State Minister Alam and discussed the violence against the Ahmadiyya in Bangladesh and underlined the importance of freedom of religion and belief. Our support in Bangladesh aims to ensure that the rights of religious minorities, including the Ahmadiyya community are respected, and that these communities are protected from discrimination. We regularly engage with a wide range of civil society and non-governmental organisation partners to understand the causes and effects of inter-religious conflict. The UK will continue to support freedom of religion and belief, and human rights concerns through regular dialogue with the Government of Bangladesh and through our development programme funding.